Air Conditioners vs Swamp Coolers??

MONTANA HUNTER

MONTANA HUNTER

New member
I have been thinking about buying an air conditioner before the 100 degree heat sets in later this summer. I have been looking around the internet and have noticed "swamp coolers" which look very promising for this semi-arid climate I live in. It gets very dry here and I understand these coolers are much cheaper to operate than air conditioners. Any input on models or your thoughts would be appreciated. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif Thanks MH
 
Hi MONTANA HUNTER,

I have a swamp-cooler (portable) I use at work, it puts out cool air at 68 degs,it uses cooling from a water sorce, has a float for the water sump that pumps water over 2 paper 3'x4' combs as the fan draws (hot air) through the filters it cools the air.........its very Hummid (88% Avg.)here and would work better in a drier state........Paid $499.00 for it, 2 speed...Blows 300 to 600 cfm's......... costs $15.00 a month but only runs 10 hours a day.... 1 hp fan motor

We also have a central A/C at home where it keeps the house at 73degs all the time,it does take more to run it (funds) but after working all day in 90-100 degs and come home to a cool and quite house its worth it......... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The cost of running an a/c is based on what you need, here you can buy a Window shaker small window a/c for $88.00 a 5,000 btu unit that will cool a 12 x 12 room and bath and will cost about 20 dollars a month to run it.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

Our full house 50,000 btu, a/c 2 ton,1,400 square foot home costs around $80.00 a Month to run it..........in the heat of the summer.......we also have Tinted/Bronze Mirrored windows to keep the heat out also, and wont fade the carpet,wood floors and furniture with UV rays from the sun......... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Stay cool.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif... RickH2
 
We have run both and prefer the AC much better. The swamp cooler improves the more you get under 40% humidity, but also depends on building insulation and running it 24 hrs or before the building begins to warm up. The swamp/evaporative cooler also requires selective location and open outlets at far ends of the building for the volume air movement to exhaust. The water system can require maintenance(more so with hard water). The water can produce or hold odors and at the worst legionaires disease which we have seen locally a couple times causing illness or death. Both have a place with the swamp cooler being the most efficient and AC being the most constant. Good Luck.
 
I run a swamp cooler. Its very dry here in NM so it is a decent option. When the humidity level gets up around 35-40% they don't work that well. Your electricity bill will be cheaper with a swamp cooler.
 
Hi Tripod3,

Being that I use mine to blow on me directly at work for (some Comfort) at 68degs do you get any cooler air being your in less humid air??

I have added (ice) to drop the temp but its a short term thing only lasts 30-45 mins with a 10lb block of ice in cooler sump, is there a whole house unit?? Ive only seen Portables ones here...... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

We went to Las Vegas for a week, and our noses bled darn near the whole time becuase it was so dry for us, and not used to the dryness, or that STATIC Shocks every time we got in a rental car or room door (that Hurts)........ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Thanks............RickH2
 
RICKH2, When the humidity drops below 30% a swamp cooler cools at almost every temperature. It is best to not let the temp rise get ahead by turning the cooler on at a earlier point. It doesn't catcth up as well as AC. Yes there are portable, Whole house window & roof mount, and commercial. Home units can move up to 5000 cubic feet per minute. They can be found at heating/cooling shops or even at Sears or Lowes. Some even have motorized pads for increased cooling. Yes we have static. Here is a link. http://www.coolercenter.com/products.html
 
I use a swamp cooler in Denver and find it functions fine up to around 55% humidity. They are much cheaper to install and much cheaper to run. I and another guy put mine in in one day from saws all to cool air. Bought at Home Depot and think it was a Phoenix brand.

It seems counterintuitive, but it should be installed in direct sun if possible.

A plus for AC is it is quieter.
 
Thanks I appreciate everyone's input. I am not sure the humidy level here but seems pretty dry to me. I was thinking with fuel costs sky high anywhere we can save its a big plus. Thanks /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif-MH
 
We have a swamp cooler, never knew anything about humidity levels either. what I do know about it is if anything goes down I can fix it myself with all the availabe parts. I wouldn't know what to do if an AC unit goes down and I'm alot cheaper than an AC repairman or a new AC unit if it's something bad. No saws all instalation for me either, we took the screen out of a window and made a stand for it. covered the rest of the open window with a piece of plexiglass. When cooler temps caome in the fall we take it down and store it, put the screen back on and close the window.

t/c223encore.
 
Swamp (evaporative) coolers will never be able to get the potential temp as low as AC (refrigeration) units but are very effective in dry climates since water evaporates quickly here.

Here in the desert many folks use "mistors" (outside), usually just a pvc water pipe with very small holes drilled in it every few inches, run along the roof line around a patio. It puts out a mist (not a spray) and can lower the patio temp by as much as 20-30deg. Not bad when the ambient temp is 112 (yesterday) and they require NO power at all, just water pressure.

I live on the patio in the summer time (it's where I am now). /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I think your best bet is going with the swamp cooler. For the amount of time you are going to run it, the monthly savings on the power bill, and the innitial cost to purchase the unit, you will be way ahead! (money for another varmint rifle!

Downside to the swamper is the amount of humidity it can put in your house. Doors have swolen shut in my house when I had the swamper!

Going home to refrigerated air smokes the feel of a swamper, but its not worth the extra $$ if you don't use it for more than 4 months a year.

Just my added .02 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I had a swamp cooler for 20 years. It leaves lots of calcium deposits in the house. This is from hard water in our area and maby in your area. I finely went to an AC unit and would never go back to a swamp cooler and the mess.

If you do have a swamp cooler and it's 100+ deg out side, it will cool down to around 85 deg. inside. But you put two blocks of Ice in the water, it will cool down to about 78 deg. and the ice will last most of the day. I worked on Heating and AC units for over 34 years. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif GENE'O
 
This could get a bit long winded, sorry if it is /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

If your humidity is high the water must be pulled out of the air to drop temp.

(example) If the temp is 80 say that air can hold 100 parts per million of water. At 70 degrees the max. parts per million is 80 that the air will hold. Water must be pulled from the air to drop temp. If your humidity is low you are not at the max parts per million so temps can go as low as the water in the air will allow.
(numbers are just out of the blue, for exact numbers you need an enthalpy chart.)

AC by nature is a dehumidifier.
Dehumidifiers are nothing more than really small ac units.
Any object that is lower than the dew point will condensate. Like your beer /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Same as the cold coil in the A/C system.

Swamp coolers add water to the air and in turn you get the sticky feeling. Here in Michigan I would not want one.

100 deg at 100% humidity would be my idea of hell and require the use of AC. If you were at 100 deg & 40% then a swamp cooler might offer some relief.

If you opt for a "window shaker" look for one in 220 volts. The amp draw is 1/2 of a 110v unit.
I have never seen a central air unit that was not 220v.

Central air efficency is rated in seer (seasonal energy efficency rating). Last year they discontinued making the lowest seer units so all of the new ones will be pretty efficient. Cost went up 300-400 on most units though.

If you could get your hands on an old newspaper from last years hot season you should get an idea of the humidity level.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top